The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-02-24
Washin gtOn Letter.
WASHINGTON. D. G., Feb. IS, Is

WASHINGTON, u. u, Feb. Is, 1887.
Congress has given its attention to
a vast amount of miscellaneous matter
during the present week, such as the
Texas Ku Klux in vestigation. money
for rivers and harbors, retaliation
towards Canada, and the trade dollar,
but the most interesting debate occur
red in the Senate over the bill provid-
ing for the increase of the naval estab-
lishment.
The Senate voted for the building of
ten new cruisers. Senator Maxey, of
Texas, was not only in favor of build
ing war vessels. but of fortifying every
seaport in the country. He knew that
it was going to cost money, but he said
if there was any force in the maxim
Gin time of peace prepare for war;"
this was the time to put it in practice,
when the Treasury was overfowing
and when the money was being abso
lutely wasted.
Senator Butler, Of South Carolina,
wanted the vessels to be heavily ar
mored Mr.. Hale insisted that the
pending bill confined the new vessels
strictly to defensive. not aggressive
purposes. He was for defensive pur-
poses first, and after that, if armored
ships were desired, he would favor
them. The two features on which
Congress was now proceeding were
the fast cruisers (making it dangerous
for other nations to engage in war with
the United States, because their COM
merce wonld be the prey of the cruis-
ers) and the coast defenses to prevent
foreign fleets from bombsrding the
great cities of the United States.
Senator ingalls, expressed the belief
that the floating batteries provided for
in the bill would be practically useless.
The senate had been, within the past
few weeks, appropriating millions. not
for tribute, but for defense. Wealthy
men who did not care how the money
was to go, had been doing this. He
hoped that the Senate would pause in
its headlong career long enough to get
some tangible Information as to how
much money there was in the Treasu
ry, and how long the Fountain of
Pactolus" would afford the golden
stream necessary to meet the millions
which the Senate was 40 recklessly
voting away.
Senator Dolph had read the Senate
a newspaper clipping which described
an imaginary attack on and destruc-
ton of the city of San Francisco, by
hostile feet. Then he dwelt upon the
present defenseless condition of the
United States, and said it was under
heavy bond to keep the peace with all
the world, and that it would be at q
humiliating disadvantage in any con-
tr0versy.
When Senator Vest took the floor
he asked who was responsible for the
present disgraceful lack of United
States Navy and seacoast defenses. He
knew that he would be" threshing old
straw" but he wanted to remind the
Senate and the country that there was
not in the history of the civilized
world, a page of NAL.
equal to that of the Navy Department
of the U. S. since 1865 1t was not the
fault of Congress that the country had
no coast defenses. 1t had appropriated
since the close of the war, nearly $500,
O0O. 900 for naval purposes. If British
Minister should make such an exhibit
in Parliament as the U. 8. Navy De-
partment from 1865 to 1885, he would
be pursued out of his place with exc
crations. The Senator believed that if
this session were to last much longer,
Congress would put Aladdin's lamp
into the hands of a receiver"
The House of Representatives has
made up its mind to fight the Presi-
dents veto of the big Pauper Pension
bill, and the Senate of course will do
the same. It is not believed, however
that the veto can be overridden.
The Presidents latest veto is that of
the Texas Seed bill. 1t appropriated
$l0,O 900 for seed corn and wheat to be
distributed in the drOuth stricken re-
gions Of that State. Its advocates made
q strong plea, but the President said
in the message accompanying the veto,
I do dot believe that the power and
duty of the general Government ought
to be extended to the relief of individ-
usl suffering which is in no manner
properly related to the public service
or benefit" Among his sentences was
one which will doubtless have a place
with the familiar quotations of our
Federal politics. Said he, Though
the people support the Government,
the Government ought not support the
people"